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Can standing for a role such as an elected local councillor help your local community - their wants and needs including but far from limited to travel aspirations (actually travel's just a tiny part of the role for most councillors, but I need an excuse to post my question!)

Changing times ... and local elections coming up at the beginning of May; I've taken the opportunity to look at the redrawn parish ward I live in (here) (http://www.wellho.net/mouth/4734_Thoughts-on-the-new-Blackmore-Ward-of-Melksham-Without-Parish.html), and to reconsider whether I should stand for the council (here) (http://www.wellho.net/mouth/4735_Revisiting-should-I-stand-for-Melksham-Without-Parish-Council-in-May-.html).

I suspect we have some members here who have been through such a consideration, and indeed some who have stood and been elected.  Interested to find out - so I'm adding a poll to ask ... not looking for a majority vote, just to get an idea of metrics and to find if we have any hidden expertise.

A thankless job as Councils have very little power as central government tells them what they can spend and gives then far more to do with it than is possible.  They are therefore just the Westminster government's (I mean the Treasury's) poodle.

In many other areas of policy they must simply do what they are told. 

Now if our council's had the sorts of powers that councils have in Europe or the USA.....

I'd assumed you were referring to Parish Councils?....which aren't controlled by central Govt anywhere near as much, and very few are even political. Only the very largest have candidates for party politics. And boy, its fresher for that!

Parish Councils do indeed have more autonomy, but around here (Swindon), the Borough Council is transferring loads of its services to Parishes to save it money and allow it to pay for the rising costs of Social Care.  So street sweeping, grass cutting and even Libraries are being run by Parish Councils.  They therefore do not feel very much in control at the moment. 

Parish Councils can refuse to accept these roles if they so choose...

They could easily refuse on the Library....  ....but then it would close.  Not sure what the position is on the other services. 

Oxfordshire manages to keep theirs open without resorting to PCs.

I don't have much confidence in the fairness of the local government block grant system so I would seek to judge either Oxfordshire or Swindon on that.

As Wiltshire Council cuts back on services towards a minimum statutory requirement, parishes are being given the opportunity to take on responsibilities and costs should they wish to do so. Grass cutting, public toilets, play and recreation areas are amongst the elements that's applying to here abouts.  

And (noting a thread elsewhere too) in some places it's applying to public bus services / support; noting that Frome Town Council (at the parish level) is roving support through to the autumn to the 267 evening service on Mondays to Thursdays to Bath.   Parishes supporting transport services running in and out of their area seems to my logic something where there's a real advantage in having the overall system planned at a regional rather than parish level, as these things got from one area to another and the whole point of regional government should be to look after those things that aren't limited in effect / benefit to a single parish, but in the case of Frome, Taunton (county HQ) is a long way away.    And Frome and neighbouring parishes served by the 267 don't necessarily have the same view as the council's officers who (as they live in or near Taunton) have probably never used the service.

Tough decisions on parish councillors - to take over something from "county" or to let it be lost. With the ruling political group at county saying "look, we don't put the council tax up" and "your parish person could have kept it if the facility was really wanted".

I would like to know what power gives Parishes the ability to support transport? S137 I'm assuming, which is a limited spend per elector & often used for alternative priorities. There is no other power, so I hope they aren't overspending on s137

I did stand once in the early 70s but in a seat I knew I wouldn't win. I never put up for a winnable seat,

However, 10/15 years later we won the ward where I stood which shows persistence.

So not sure what to vote?

I suppose never considered it!

It's the "general power of competence", introduced in 2011. It requires that the council is at least two-thirds elected (not co-opted) and has a qualified parish/town clerk. We briefly looked at it for bus subsidies with Charlbury Town Council but our clerk, though very experienced, doesn't have one of the required qualifications, and Pulhams continued the X9 on a commercial basis anyway.

Tough indeed.  But also tough on the District/Borough/County Councillors too. They are only allowed to put up council tax by a certain percentage without a referendum. Unfortunately a referendum is extremely expensive so they would then have to increase by more to cover the cost of the referendum and if they lose they are therefore in a much worse position.

Government grants to councils in our area are decreasing down to zero by 2020. Counties and Unitaries are faced with massive increases in Social Care costs from increased demand and the cost of minimum wage increases affecting suppliers who are already saying they cannot do the job for the money offered by councils.

Who want to be a Councillor? 

I am reminded of a similar observation, made by an existing trustee of a pension scheme when he reviewed the increasingly onerous legal responsibilities then being imposed on such a (generally unpaid) role:

"Anyone who actually wants to be a pension scheme trustee these days needs to get their head read" (said with a broad Scottish accent).

 ::)

I knew someone who became a parish councillor in his 40s and observed that he provided some counterpoint to his colleagues as their average age was "older than Methuselah".

On a different note, "Beanacre" and "Berryfield" – do you live in "The Shire"?  :D

Ooh arrr, aye, we does!   Note also Sandridge, Blackmore and Woodrow, Bowerhill and Cow's Lip Mews. 

Trustee of a charity is also onerous, but the one public post that's changed and is still not paid ism school governor. You know have to take on lots of financial and legal responsibility.

I think it's important for people to get involved in their local community. Whether that is as a trustee, governor, councillor or whatever.

I am an elected member and despite the frustrations of shrinking budgets, really enjoy the role. You meet some incredible people.

Welcome to the forum!

I very much agree - but that may be getting involved as "x" OR "y" OR "z" and not as "x" AND "y" AND "Z".

My personal decision is that I don't know enough, or have enough interest or time, to be involved in a wide range of local issues to my own satisfaction, so I choose to do fewer things and try and do them (or attempt to) to a satisfactory level.

I will confess to being very disappointed indeed in some of our new local councillors and on first indications feel that I could have done a better job ... jumping in with 2 feet with limited knowledge; two look like bulls in china shops.  Some of the others seem really rather good.

The thing is, you rarely know much about things before getting involved. In my opinion that shouldn't preclude you from standing. Having an interest in a subject / cause / area will help, but I have learnt loads in my time as a councillor (about 8 years now on different authorities).

I would agree with you - great if you have the time, and desire and inclination to learn.   Personally my "spare" time goes on very specific technical stuff in one particular area.   

I admire those who do stand and say "I don't know yet - I'm learning". But frankly, I resent those who don't know but pretend they do  - especially where (two examples I have just seen) they apply that pretence to creating a fuss, getting facts wrong, then head off on 4 weeks holiday (shorter in the other case) leaving a message to say they'll consider replying when they get back.